Lakers

Yesterday it was announced that the Orlando Magic have fired head coach Stan Van Gundy and general manager Otis Smith. It was reported that towards the end of the season Orlandowould have to make these moves in order to get Dwight Howard committed long term. Well they did it and now I think it’s time for them to lose Dwight as well. He causes to much drama for the team and at this point I think Magic fans are tired of him! Stan Van Gundy was a good head coach and though Smith made some questionable decisions (trade for Gilbert Arenas) Van Gundy led Orlandoto an NBA Finals appearance and the 4th best winning percentage since he took over in Orlando in 2007. The only three teams better were the Lakers, the Celtics and the Spurs in that order. The interview before the Knicks game toward the end of the season was the dead giveaway that things were getting bad in Orlando (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzORXMDvJzQ fast forward to 5 min in). There are so many teams that would be willing to trade for Dwight that I think Orlando should just move on before he tares this team apart even more then he already has. The CEO Alex Martins denies that Howard had anything to do with the decision behind the firings but anyone on the outside looking in doesn’t believe that and I’m sure if Van Gundy and Smith could tell the truth they would but I’m sure there is something in their contracts that will stop them from saying anything. I’m sure Van Gundy will get a job and be fine it’s the Magic I’m worried about. Do you think Orlando will trade Dwight Howard? Do you think Howard will agree to a long term deal now that he got what he want? Let me know what you think below and don’t forget to always check out SportsZone on the tunein radio app (search clubzone) and on http://clubzone.fm/ from 12-2pm eastern every Monday through Friday!!! You can also call in and voice your opinion at 201-430-2119. This blog is also available on http://www.facebook.com/SportsZoneonClubZone .

Arguably the biggest story from this weekend was the elbow heard around the NBA. Ron Artest aka Metta World Peace after a fast break dunk over Kevin Durant and Serge Ibaka in a playoff atmosphere type game celebrated a little to much and elbowed James Harden square in the back of the head and knocked him to the ground. Harden had to leave the game with a concussion and could not return to the game. Now Artest has a serious history of maturity and violence issues in the NBA. But his background is part of his problem coming from a tough neighborhood in Queens New York where he watched a friend get stabbed and killed by a table leg because of an altercation on the court, Artest watched his friend die right on the basketball court. But what he might be known most for is the brawl at the Palace of Auburn Hills when him and other players ended up in the stands fighting with not only players but fans as well. Artest suffered the longest suspension in NBA history for an on court incident missing 86 games. He also was suspended for game 2 of his teams 1st round series in 2006 for elbowing Manu Ginobili in the head. In the 2008 playoffs he was ejected in back to back games against the Lakers for hard fouls against Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol. Artest also admitted to drinking Hennesy and other alchohol in the locker room when he was with the Chicago Bulls as well as he applied for a job at Circuit City so he could get an employee discount. He once went to practice when he was the Indiana Pacers in his bath robe. Artest was also suspended for three games in 2003 for destroying a TV camera at Madison Square Garden, and for four games the same year for a confrontation with Miami Heat coach Pat Riley. He was also suspended for two games in the early 2004–05 season by Pacers coachRick Carlisle after he allegedly asked for a month off because he was tired from promoting an R&B album for the group Allure on his production label. I bring up all his history because he has been pretty good lately for Ron Artest standards and the incident from yesterday should be judged seperately from all these other incidents. At least that’s what I think, I think he deserves to be suspended for the rest of the regular season and the first two games of the playoffs but anything more I think would be ridiculous! What kind of suspension do you think Artest aka Metta World Peace deserves? Let me know what you think below and don’t forget to always check out SportsZone on the tunein radio app (search clubzone) and on http://clubzone.fm/ from 12-2pm eastern every Monday through Friday!!! You can also call in and voice your opinion at 201-430-2119. This blog is available on both http://www.facebook.com/SportsZoneonClubZone as well as http://clubzone.fm/blog/ .